By Alexandra Sandacz
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
ATHENS, Greece – As Greece feels the effects of Europe’s debt crisis and simultaneously experiences a 25 percent unemployment rate, the number of hate crimes increased.
For example, on September 17, 2012, Ali Rahimi was attacked by 15 individuals. He recalled, “I told them that I am from Afghanistan, and they said that it is time for me to go back to my country.”
Currently, there is a roughly 800,000 to 1 million undocumented migrants that now live in Greece, which has a population near 11 million.
Nikos Demertzis, a professor of political sociology at the University of Athens, described the crisis as, “We have a major socioeconomic crisis in which several hundred thousand Greeks are losing ground, and you have a rising number of immigrants in Greece, many illegal. This is creating a volcanic situation where all the classic parameters for the flourishing of a far-right force like Golden Dawn are present.”
Relying on the recent national frustration with unemployment and immigrants, political party, Golden Dawn, campaigned on a platform of ultra-nationalism and fierce anti-immigrant policies. Along with a growing popularity, Golden Dawn won 18 seats in parliament during June’s national election, becoming the fifth largest political party in parliament.
Golden Dawn campaigned with one major caveat: for Greeks only.
Ilias Panagotiaros, a Golden Dawn politician and a member of Greek parliament, said, “We have to protect 10 million Greeks that are suffering from the very bad economy and from the killings, rapes, shootings and everything else that all illegal immigrants are doing to this country.”
Consequentially, since the party took a seat in national office, many supporters have been accused of various violent attacks, such as the stabbings and beatings of immigrants, ransacking an immigrant community center, smashing market stalls and breaking the windows of immigrant-owned shops.
Judith Sunderland from Human Rights Watch states, “Something must happen quick. Xenophobic hate crimes have reached an alarming proportion in Greece. Victims are often actively discouraged from filing complaints, told by police officers that it is not worth their while or that they should fight back themselves. And many migrants fear that they could be locked up themselves because of their legal status.”
As a result of the numerous assaults against immigrants, Athens is recommending to create stricter penalties against hate crimes, which could include a minimum three-year prison sentence.
For further information, please see:
NBC World News — Hate crimes increase, extreme right strengthens as Greece economy sinks – 22 October 2012
The Washington Post — Anti-immigrant Golden Dawn rises in Greece – 20 October 2012
SETimes — Greece to crack down on hate crimes – 2 October 2012
The New York Times — Right-Wing Extremists’ Popularity Rising Rapidly in Greece – 30 September 2012
